THE THIRD TEST.

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1924, Page 4

THE THIRD TEST.

A Gl{ BAT VICTORY

•SYDNEY, duly 10

Tilt* All Blacks overwhelmed New South Wales in ihe final Test, anti ii the standard of play established to-day is maintained. New Zealand need have no misgivings as to the result of the English tour, [a every department the All Blacks excelled, and not only did they excel the Australians, hut they cave an all-round exhibition -which will rank hitch in the annals of Rugby in this State.

'i ne team was the same as that which played in the second Test, hut on this occasion every man did his work well, including Nepia, who up till yesterday was perhaps the most conspicuous failure among those who played in the lirst three game.!.

In the third Test the name of one player was on the lips of everybody who watt bed the match. It was Porter. I’ortor. the truly brilliant All Black wing-forward, was the mcst| criticised and the most applauded. The applause was deserve:!, the criticism was not. I’orter was hooted at one stage because* the crowd imagined that lie was playing the man, and n few minutes later the name crowd was cheering him. But as far a< could lie seen from the line he was not the* olfemler. This was not the only mistake the referee made. Porter made the most of his roving commission, nud wherever there was work to be done he was there to do it. It was indeed fitting that he .should .score two tries, and it so happened that they were mainly due to his own resourcefulness, his own enterprise, and his anticipation of the lactins that were to he employed by bis opponents. He was of great assistance to Dailey, whose work he f rc»i ii<*tiLly performed. Sydney is likely to talk of this great winger for some time to

come. The hacks were in great form for the linal Test, their passing rushes living spectacular in the extreme. One particular try ranks as one of the prettiest pieces of work seen on a fool hall field. I'-’rom a scrum nmidlicld I’orter whipped I In* hall out to Dailey, who immediately sent it to Mn:k Nicholls. from Nil hulls ic went to Svensnn. then to Brown, then hack to Sveiisoii. and finally t i Lucas. The speed was terrific, and when I.ui 's dashed over the line tin* crowd cheered with delight. This particular effort was no flash in the pan. for similar moves tool; jiliue throughout the afternoon. Dailey was in great- form behind the serum, and in the open play he gave displays of folding low. which excelled anything else in that line that has been dune during the tour. Cooke was fast and Mi;e. while Mark Nicholls was at lux best. Tt was Nicholls who kicked a goal for the All Blacks after there had been a succession of many failures, including the inglorious display of kicking on the occasion of the second lest. Alur that Nicholls was entrusted with all the goal kicking, and Richardson's < onlidetice in him was justified. Nepia failed twice to convert earlier in the game, and when Irvine kicked a goal after the third try it was disallowed on a technicality.

There was no weak spot in the forward line, every man doing his part. Onto again weight told, and with weight there was pace. The defen e of the New Zealanders was tested and was found to he .sound. In the second spell the New South Wales men endeavoured strenuously to make an impression, hut the tackling of the All Blacks was too deadly• -the lessons ot previous matches had gone holm*.

The team whiili leaves for home this week will he indefinitely superior to that which arrived a lortnight ago.